rock
Toggle-Switch Mania
BY BILL LAFLEUR
Creating Cool Sounds with Multi-Pickup Guitars
Click here to head to
premierguitar.com/aug2010
to hear soundclips.
The toggle switch is the switch or lever device that is used for selecting which pickup is on. The pickups are placed in different positions on the
guitar to get different timbres. By moving the toggle switch back and forth, an alternating timbre effect is created.
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neck position
toggle switch
bridge neck br
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The previous example will work with almost any electric guitar that has more than one pickup. Another type of toggle switch effect is to use it
as a “kill switch.” In other words, you will turn the sound on and off as rapidly or slowly as desired. In order for this to work the guitar must have
multiple pickups with separate volume knows for each pickup—like a Gibson Les Paul type guitar. By turning one volume all the way off and the
other all the way up, you can alternate the toggle switch back and forth for the effect.
Q = 84
*
Vibrato is coupled with a 16th note toggle
effect. The fret hand holds the note with
vibrato, and pick hand controls the toggle.
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*Flick toggle switch in indicated rhythm.
A bend with a gradual release is combined
with the toggle effect here.
1
grad. release
1/2
7
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An interesting rhythmic figure with octaves is created here using the toggle.
Q = 84
*
*Flick toggle switch in indicated rhythm.
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X
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